Atlantic Coast Conference Announces ACC Football Players of the Week for September 4. Noticebly absent: Seminoles and Wahoos.

OFFENSIVE BACK - Matt Ryan, Boston College, Quarterback, 6-5, 218, Senior, Exton, Pa.A senior from Exton, Pa., Ryan led the Eagles to a hard fought 38-28 win over the 2006 ACC Champion Demon Deacons of Wake Forest. He completed 32-of-52 passes for a career-best 408 yards and five touchdowns, becoming the first Boston College quarterback to throw five or more touchdown passes since Doug Flutie in 1984. With his performance, Ryan also passed the 5,000 yard passing mark for his career.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN - Andrew Gardner, Georgia Tech, Offensive Tackle, 6-6, 298, Junior, Tyrone, Ga.Gardner, a junior from Tyrone, Ga., helped pave the way for Georgia Tech running backs to pile up 265 yards on the ground in Tech's 33-3 win at Notre Dame. Gardner played in 61 snaps during the game, registering 11 knockdowns and providing the blocking that allowed the Georgia Tech offense to accumulate 386 yards on the day.

DEFENSIVE BACK - Dejuan Tribble, Boston College, Cornerback, 5-9, 190, Senior, Cincinnati, Ohio. (pictured above). Tribble, a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, picked off three Wake Forest passes, including one in the end zone that denied the Deacons a score. Tribble's three interceptions give him 14 for his career and tied his career-high, set last year at Miami. He also added seven tackles, including one for a loss an returned the three interceptions a total of 42 yards.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN - Philip Merling, Clemson, Defensive End, 6-5, 270, Junior, Memphis, TennesseeMerling, a junior out of St. Matthews, S.C., helped the Tigers to a 24-18 victory against No. 19 Florida State registering eight total tackles, include five solo ones, one sack and two tackles for a loss. He also was credited with a forced fumble.

SPECIALIST - Travis Bell, Georgia Tech, Placekicker, 6-0, 220, Senior, Roswell, Ga. Bell connected on four field goals in five attempts, making three-pointers from 29, 32, 39 and 40 yards. He also was perfect on all three PAT attempts which extended his current string to 104 extra points without a miss.ROOKIE - T. J. Yates, North Carolina, Quarterback, 6-3, 205, Freshman, Marietta, Ga.Yates, from Marietta, Ga., led the Tar Heels to a 37-14 win over James Madison on Saturday, completing 13 of 18 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns. With his first-ever pass attempt as a college quarterback, Yates hooked up with receiver Brooks Foster on a 65-yard pass play to give the Tar Heels a 7-0 lead. He also threw touchdown passes of 28 and eight yards. After the season's first week of games, Yates leads the ACC and ranks sixth in the nation with a 217.84 pass efficiency rating.

Following his record-breaking performance against the University of South Florida, Elon University quarterback Scott Riddle (Ramseur, N.C./Eastern Randolph) was named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Week on Tuesday morning by the league office.

The 6-0, 201-pound true freshman set a school record with 33 completions in the Phoenix’s season-opening 28-13 loss to the NCAA Division I FBS Bulls on last Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium. Riddle finished 33-for-54 (.611) for 210 yards and one touchdown against USF.

Making the most of his first collegiate start, Riddle easily eclipsed the previous Elon milestone of 30 completions, set by Wes Pope against Wofford last season. He also fell just one toss shy of the program-record 55 pass attempts by Heath Hewett against Catawba in 1990.

Attorneys for the three players falsely accused in the Duke University lacrosse rape case are seeking a settlement of about $30 million and several changes to the state's legal process, a person close to the case said early Friday.

If the terms aren't met, the players' attorneys will file a civil rights lawsuit against the city of Durham early next month, said the person, who requested anonymity because not all of the details of the proposed settlement had been worked out.

During a discussion Wednesday with Durham officials, players' attorneys Brendan Sullivan and Barry Scheck, stressed that the money they are seeking -- about $10 million each for David Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann over five years -- must be accompanied by the legal reforms, the person said.

Remember Jonathan Lee Riches? The federal prisoner/habitual litigant recently scored headlines with his insane $63 billion lawsuit against Michael Vick (who allegedly stole Riches's dogs, sold them on eBay, and used the proceeds to buy weapons from the Iranian government).

OK, so he does look a little crazy.

Riches, who is doing a decade in prison for fraud, is at it again, this time filing a loony--though quite funny--complaint again Barry Bonds, baseball commissioner Bud Selig, and Hank Aaron's bat. Yes, you read that correctly...Hank Aaron's bat.

In his lawsuit, Riches, pictured right, weaves an intricate conspiracy theory involving television ratings, steroids, the cracking of the Liberty Bell, Colombian narco-terrorists, and secretly recorded conversations for which journalists Robert Novak and Judith Miller have transcripts.

A copy of the Bonds complaint can be found here. Riches's August 13 lawsuit, which he filed in U.S. District Court in Indiana, is the 17th federal complaint he has filed since January 2006. Imprisoned in South Carolina, Riches has filed his lawsuits in 15 separate federal jurisdictions, presumably moving state-to-state to avoid sanctions over the filing of frivolous actions.

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? Louisiana State fans celebrate their 45-0 victory over Mississippi State in the stands during their college football game in Starkville, Miss. They will be all whipped up this weekend when ESPN’s Game Day and the Hokies come to Baton Rouge.

THE AUGUST PLACE TO BE...or so say they say about the horse racing mecca of Saratoga Spring, New York. Pictured here is one of the many reasons so many fans make the pilgramage every August. This is typical of what you would see if you were up early to watch the horses train...or if you were just walking by the track on your way home from a very late night at Siros.

EARNING HIS MONEY. New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez hits a two-run home run during seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners Wednesday night, Sept. 5, 2007 at Yankee Stadium in New York. Rodriguez, who is hurt, had to talk manager Joe Torre into letting him play. Rodriguez became the fourth Yankees player to homer twice in an inning, joining Joe DiMaggio (June 24, 1936), Joe Pepitone (May 23, 1962) and Cliff Johnson (June 30, 1977).

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

By JOHN "FALLING DOWN" CLARK - TAH Special Correspondent and President of the Warrenton Chapter of Seminole Nation.

The 'ole gray mare just ain't what she used to be.Here's where I'd usually lead with some nonsense, fictitious quote, but this week I don't have to. I'll let Bobby start us off with the first "No S#%&, [insert coach's name], No S#%&." of the new season:

"When you don't block, nobody goes," Bobby Bowden said. "When you don't tackle, everything goes the other way. I don't know what happened. It was the most inept we've been since I can remember, offensively and defensively. We didn't block and we didn't tackle. It's as simple as that."

No S#%&, Bobby, No S#%&.

For the third straight year, and for four of the last five, Bowden the Younger has whipped up on Bowden the Elder. Clumpson ran up an impressive 24-3 halftime score, and FSU just couldn't get it together to make a comeback.

Hero of the Week: There's two this week. First, new man QB Cullen Harper, who torched FSU for 160 yards and 2 TDs. Second, James Davis, with 102 yards and 1 TD.And, yes, that was Jeff Bowden you heard screaming "I TOLD YOU IT WASN'T ME!!!!!" Boy, good investment buying him out, FSU boosters. Really turned the offense around.

In related news, it is reported that one of our very own, Sam Blaser, had a great night last night. Congratulations, Sam.

In unrelated news, this will most likely be the last time FSU is featured in the Game-o-the-Week. Next week, we're covering VT vs. LSU. I know it isn't a conference game, but do we really care about Dook vs. UVA or NC State vs. BC? No, we don't. And I'm sure next week's spot will be more entertaining. It is hard to type with tears rollling down your cheeks.

Hokie Nation: you got a one week pass this week. Next week, we're back to normal. Good luck against LSU.

Finally, this week is not the week to find yourself in Fauquier County Circuit Court. Our beloved Judge, Judge Parker, is a die hard Michigan fan. Don't get in trouble this week, people--it won't be pretty.

(Editor's Note:There might have been more actual info about the game, but rumor has it, that somebody didn't watch the second half just becuase his sweet little baby Noles were SUCKING. But, it's just a rumor...)

ZAP, the mascot of the Detroit Shock, dunks during a half time show during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Fever during the 2007 WNBA Playoffs at the Palace of Auburn Hills September 3, 2007 in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

OK, we get the mascot dunking, but what's up with the red, white and blue afro wig?

OOPS. Deadspin reports that Natalie Nelson, who rocketed to fame as a USC Song Girl after she was photographed cheering at the wrong moment in the 2006 BCS title game at the Rose Bowl, has completed her eligibility. Yes, her Song Girl days are over.

Nelson was immortalized by the photo at left, which sparked a series of Internet spinoffs.

Monday, September 3, 2007

First came word via "The Today Show" of a recruiting coup for the school in the North Carolina mountains. Lauren Caitlin Upton, the freshly famous Miss Teen South Carolina, whose dingbat answer to a beauty pageant question became an instant YouTube classic, told Matt Lauer she planned to attend Appalachian State (assuming she can get her geographically challenged self there). The announcement had App State officials scrambling to get their academic programs, especially reading, up to speed.

Then the Mountaineers walk into the big house and knock off Michigan in front of 109,000 Wolverine fans. This is the first time since the invention of I-AA in 1978 that a FCS (Football Championship Subdivision, the idiotic new NCAAese for I-AA) team has beaten a team ranked in the AP Top 25.

What happened next could not have been unexpected.

Not long after word reached the ACC headquarters in Charlotte, ACC Commissioner John Swofford announced that he was immediately inviting Appalachian State, Wyoming, West Virginia and East Carolina to join the ACC. “Look at what Appalachian State just did, and they are located in North Carolina, the home of the ACC,” said Swofford.

“Wyoming kicked Virginia's ass…bad. So they're in. And East Carolina looked strong against the Hokies,” continued Swofford. “Morgantown is actually 17.4 miles closer to the coast than Blacksburg…that, and that Slyaton kid can flat get it.”

VIRGINIA TECH - UGLY. Sometimes you have to win ugly, and in a very emotional game, that’s exactly what the Hokies did. They’re barely adults and they were playing for themselves, their school, and all those maroon-clad fans. Most importantly, they were playing for 32 Hokies who weren't at Lane Stadium. All and all, it could not have been easy. "I know I was overanxious," linebacker Vince Hall said. "Coach warned us about it, but how can you be ready for that? It was so emotional."

ECU gave Tech all they wanted for three quarters before wearing down in the fourth quarter. With 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Hokies had all of nine yards rushing -- nine. Senior QB Sean Glennon hadn’t looked very sharp mainly because he had ECU purple and gold draped all over him. In the fourth quarter, the offensive line, Brandon Ore and Glennon got it all going. Especially a great TD pass to Sam Wheeler (pictured) who had nine catches.

Moving forward: LSU – at Baton Rouge, the Hokies offensive line will face one of the best defenses in the country, so they will need to play much better. Against ECU, the ESPN announcers said the Pirate’s front four was “manhandling” the Tech O-line. That’s ECU who’s defense is pretty good, but it ain’t LSU…

UNC - North Carolina's frustrated fans have spent nearly a year waiting for Butch Davis to start rebuilding a program mired in perennial struggle. Their first glimpse at his work offered plenty of room for hope. Redshirt freshman T.J. Yates threw three touchdowns in his first start while the Tar Heels turned in a solid all-around effort to beat James Madison 37-14 on Saturday, earning a rare season-opening victory while giving Davis his first win here.

The win made Davis the first North Carolina coach to win his first regular-season game since Dick Crum in 1978, and it gave the Tar Heels only their third opening-day win in a decade.

Tar Heel Nation is fired up about Davis. Davis sent 29 first rounders to the NFL when at Miami, and it's not unfair to say that Larry Coker's two National Championships were won with a bunch of Davis' boys. However, as they say in hoop, you can't coach hieght and you can't coach speed, so we will see how far Butch can get with the current crop. None the less, in the past two years UNC struggled against JMU's conference mates William & Mary and Furman, so a big win was needed.BC v WAKE -- Matt Ryan threw for five touchdowns -- second most at Boston College only to Doug Flutie -- and DeJuan Tribble intercepted three passes on Saturday to help the Eagles beat Wake Forest 38-28 and give Jeff Jagodzinski a victory in his head coaching debut. Ryan completed 32-of-52 passes for a career-high 408 yards. up with 10 different receivers -- including himself, on a ball that was batted at the line -- and threw for more than 400 yards against Wake Forest for the second consecutive year.

MIAMI - Randy Shannon stood in a silent Miami locker room and uttered a simple pregame message: "This is still Miami." His players got the point. Graig Cooper and Javarris James combined to rush for 215 yards, plus the Hurricanes made four interceptions and recorded six sacks.

"I did not see this coming," Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey said. "I thought we would play pretty well defensively. I did not know we would run the ball as well as we ran it today."

Umm…Coach, I don’t think you are supposed to say you didn’t see it coming. Where is the coachspeak about “confidence in my men” blah, blah, blah.

BLAHOOS - Kevin Moore rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown and Wyoming held Virginia to 110 total yards. The Cavaliers (0-1) beat the Cowboys 13-12 in overtime last season in Charlottesville, thanks to a missed extra point by Wyoming. But the Cavs couldn't escape this season -- and they couldn't run at all against Wyoming. Virginia had 6 yards on the ground, and five, count ‘em, FIVE first downs.

MARYLAND - Keon Lattimore ran for 106 yards and three touchdowns, Jordan Steffy played exceptionally well in his first start as Maryland's quarterback, and the Terrapins wore down Villanova in a 31-14 victory Saturday night. Shortly before the opening kickoff, Maryland announced that backup quarterback Josh Portis has been ruled ineligible for the season because of an "academic issue."

If Maryland doesn’t have a quarterback problem, the sun isn’t coming up tomorrow…

NC STATE - Some where, Chuck Amato is laughing…pretty hard, actually. Man, that was ugly. Kevin Smith rushed for a career-high 217 yards with two touchdowns, and Central Florida held on to beat North Carolina State 25-23 on Saturday night, spoiling Tom O'Brien's debut as the Wolfpack's coach.

Smith had a school-record 80-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage, and had 177 yards by halftime!!! Ouch.

In spite of an opening ugly loss, Duke believes they are going to get better...why? New unis. Works everytime.

Here's all the scoop from Paul Lucas' UNI WATCH from ESPN's Page 2.

ACC• Completely unnecessary downgrade at Boston College, where this and this (both perfectly good designs, right?) have been supplanted by this. Good luck reading that gold number on the red jersey. And why replace the soaring eagle sleeve patch with a simple eagle's head, especially when the latter looks so much like the patch used by those other Eagles? Pfeh.

In spite of a bye week, the Fauquier 5-6 Pee Wee Broncos remained #1 in the poll released early this morning by Sports Illustrated Kids magazine. In addition, the long awaited Five- and Six-Year-Old Pee Wee/Instructional Football League National Championship Series Poll (56PWIFLNCS) was released to the national media. It also has the Broncos in the top spot and angling for the 56PWIFLNCS Championship Game (sponsored by Nickelodeon).

According to 56PWIFLNCS spokesmen, the Backyardigans, "The Broncos are just too awesome. Their win against a storied franchise like the Steelers was so impressive, they easily remained #1."

THE GOLDEN DOMEINCHI CODE. In a secret language known only to Notre Dame students and leprechauns, the Irish student body spells out "Oh s&%#, the media was right, we really do suck" during a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on September 1, 2007 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.

FLUSHED AWAY. The University of Virginia's football season, ironically disguised as a toilet, attempts to run away and hide during a horrible loss to Wyoming. The season/toilet eventually found it's way to the Land of Misfit Football Seasons and took up a nice spot on the beach next to Michigan.

THE BEARS, THE BEARS, THE BEARS ARE ON FIRE!! California head coach Jeff Tedford, right, runs to the field with his team including linebacker Worrell Williams (1) and wide receiver Jeremy Ross (3) in a college football game against Tennessee in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007.

THERE WERE THOUSANDSof images from the VT vs. ECU pre-game ceremonies. This patch says it all. Virginia Tech quarterback Sean Glennon wears a patch remembering the 32 victims of the shooting at the school. In addition to honoring the 32 students and faculty killed in the nation's deadliest shooting rampage before the game, the university also honored victims' families, those wounded and first responders to the massacre at Norris Hall.(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

LOCAL BOY DOES GOOD. The Riddle family lives next door to J. Allen Tar Heel, occasional Hackberry Creek Member Guest participant and cousin of Young A.T. Tar Heel, in the lovely hamlet of Ramseur, NC. Scott Riddle led the local high school to the NC 3-AA State Championship. He is just an inch short of Division 1, but he has a gun for an arm.

His dad, Jimmy, was a Little All-American at Elon, so that made the decision easy. In his first collegiate start for Elon as a true freshman, young Mr. Riddle connected on 33 of his 54 passing attempts for 210 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His 33 completions set a new Elon record, eclipsing Wes Pope’s 30 completions against Wofford last season. Riddle’s 54 pass attempts fell one short of the program-record 55 by Heath Hewett against Catawba in 1990 while Hudgins’ career-high 14 receptions fell one shy of Richard McGeorge’s Elon-best 15 against Western Carolina in 1968.

All this while losing to the Big East's South Florida Bulls who tried to remove his head on the play in the photo.

WHERE IN THE WORLD...?

The way it is...

The way it was...

TAH DAMN GOOD CAUSE OF THE MONTH

NORTHERN HAITI HOPE FOUNDATION: After our recent trip to Haiti, we vowed to do more to help. Clean water is a critical issue for all Haitians. It's particularly problematic for those in rural areas. For $2,000 to $5,000 we can build a new well in a rural village as part of a program facilitated by the St. Barthelemy School and the Warrenton, VA Rotary. Send your donation to Wells of Health and Hope, c/o GPetty-VTA, 38 Garrett Street, Warrenton, VA 20186 and keep your eye on T.A.H. for progress reports. Thanks! CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR MORE INFO.